ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Defence
LAUNCH OF ‘IKSHAK’ THIRD SHIP OF SURVEY VESSEL  PROJECT ON 26 NOV 22 AT L&T, KATTUPALLI
‘Ikshak’, the third of the four Survey Vessels   Project, being built by GRSE/L&T for Indian Navy was launched on 26 Nov 22 at Kattupalli, Chennai. She made her first contact with water of Bay of Bengal at 1040 hrs at the Launch Ceremony graced by the VAdm MA Hampiholi, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Naval Command. In keeping with the Naval maritime tradition, Smt Madhumati Hampiholi, spouse of VAdm MA Hampiholi, launched the ship to the chanting of invocation from Atharva Veda. The ship has been named ‘Ikshak’ which means ‘Guide’. The ship has been named to signify the contribution of the Survey ships towards facilitating safe passage for Mariners at Sea.
Contract for building four SVL ships was signed between MoD and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers , Kolkata on 30 Oct 18 for a total cost of Rs 2435 Cr. As per build strategy adopted by GRSE, first ship is being built at GRSE, Kolkata and construction of balance three ships  has been sub-contracted to M/s L&T Shipbuilding, Kattupalli. The first of class ship ‘Sandhayak’ was launched on 05 Dec 21 at M/s GRSE, Kolkata, by Smt Pushpa Bhatt, wife of Shri Ajay Bhatt, Raksha Rajya Mantri, who was the Chief Guest for Launching Ceremony.
SVL ships will replace the existing Sandhayak Class survey ships with new generation hydrographic equipment to collect oceanographic data. The Survey Vessel  ships are 110 m long, 16 m wide with deep displacement of 3400 tons and a complement of 231 personnel. Propulsion system of the ship consists of two Main Engines in twin shaft configuration and is designed with cruise speed of 14 knots and maximum speed of 18 knots. Bow & Stern Thrusters have been catered for better manoeuvring at low speeds required during shallow water survey operations. The hull of these ships is made from indigenously developed DMR 249-A steel manufactured by Steel Authority of India Limited.
With a capability to carry four Survey Motor Boats and an integral helicopter, the primary role of the ships would be to undertake full scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys of Ports and navigational channels. The ships would also be deployed for collecting oceanographic and geophysical data for defence as well as civil applications. In their secondary role, the ships are capable of providing limited defence, besides serving as Hospital ships during emergencies.
Despite challenges due to COVID-19 pandemic, L&T and GRSE have made substantial progress and aim to deliver ‘Ikshak’ by Oct 2023. Launch of the third Survey Vessel reinforces our resolve for indigenous shipbuilding as part of our Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Make in India’, and thrust to the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. The Survey Vessels Large will have over 80% indigenous content by cost. This will also ensure that large scale defence production are executed by Indian manufacturing units thereby generating employment and capability build up within the country.
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Ministry of Railways
The First Oxygen Express arrives in Mumbai
Ro-Ro service with 3 Oxygen Tankers reach Kalamboli in Maharashtra today
A Ro-Ro service carrying three tankers loaded with Liquid Medical Oxygen  left Hapa in Gujarat on 25th April, 2021 at 18.03 hrs and reached Kalamboli in Maharashtra at 11.25 am on 26th April, 2021. Green corridor has been provided for the faster movement of the Oxygen Express. The medical oxygen is being made available for treatment of COVID-19 patients across the country, through Oxygen Express trains run by Ministry of Railways.
The Oxygen Express has travelled a distance of 860 Kms to reach its destination. These tankers are carrying approx. 44 tonnes of Liquid Medical Oxygen. Necessary arrangements have been made at Kalamboli Goods Shed for smooth movement of the Oxygen Express. The Oxygen Express has reached Kalamboli from Hapa via Viramgam, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Vasai Road and Bhiwandi Road keeping in place all the safety parameters. These oxygen tankers were supplied by M/s Reliance Industries, Jamnagar.
Railways has so far run Oxygen Express between Mumbai to Vizag via Nagpur to Nashik and Lucknow to Bokaro and back and a total of nearly 150 tonnes of liquid Oxygen have been carried till 25.4.2021. More ‘Oxygen Express’ are on run and are being planned to various parts of the country.
Ministry of Finance
Income Tax Department conducts searches in Tamil Nadu
Income Tax Department carried out a search and seizure operation on 20.07.2022 on two business groups; one engaged in real estate, and the other in contracts related to road and railway construction. The search operation covered more than 30 premises located in and around Madurai and Chennai.
As a result of search action on these groups, a large number of incriminating evidences including documents and digital data have been found and seized. In the case of the group involved in real estate business, these evidences have revealed that the group has indulged in large scale tax evasion by accepting huge unaccounted cash by way of on-money. The group was using a software to maintain parallel set of books of such unaccounted cash transactions.
In the case of the other group involved in the business of construction contracts, it is found that the group was involved in large scale tax evasion by debiting bogus sub-contract expenses and inflation of purchases of various raw material through self-made vouchers. In the modus-operandi followed by the group, the contract amounts were paid to bogus sub-contractors through banking channels, and after withdrawal, the cash was returned to the assessee group.
The search operation in these groups has revealed unaccounted income exceeding Rs. 150 crore.
Unaccounted cash exceeding Rs. 14 crore and unaccounted gold and jewellery valued at over Rs. 10 crore have been seized during the course of the search action.
Further investigations are in progress.
Ministry of Coal
NLC India Ltd secures 810 MW Grid Connected Solar Photovoltaic Power Project in Rajasthan
NLC India Limited, a Navratna Central Public Sector Undertaking  under the Ministry of Coal has won 810 MW Solar PV project capacity from Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Nigam Limited .
NLCIL has successfully garnered the entire capacity of the 810 MW tender floated by RRVUNL in December 2022, for developing the project RRVUNL’s 2000 MW Ultra Mega Solar Park at Pugal Tehsil, Bikaner District, Rajasthan. The Letter of Intent for this project has been issued by RRVUNL. This achievement marks a significant step forward in NLCIL's commitment to clean and sustainable energy solutions.
The land for the project and the power evacuation system connected to STU will be offered by RVUNL, paving the way for completion of the project at shorter period. This is the largest Renewable project to be developed by the company. With this project, the capacity of power project in Rajasthan will be 1.36 GW including 1.1 GW of green power, bringing economies of scale and optimized fixed costs.
Considering the good Solar radiation at Rajasthan, the higher CUF for the project is possible and will generate green power of more than 50 Billion Units and offsets more than 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions during the life of the project.
Currently, the company is establishing 50 MW Solar project at Mined out land, 200 MW Solar project under CPSU scheme on Pan-India basis, 300 MW Solar project under CPSU Scheme at Barsingsar, Bikaner District & 600 MW Solar project at Khavda Solar project, Bhuj District, Gujarat.
Shri Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, CMD, said that the company was the first CPSU to install 1 GW of RE capacity and NLCIL is currently developing 2 GW RE capacity across India including this project with target to reach more than 6 GW RE capacity by 2030, in line with the commitment of the Govt. of India, augmenting RE capacity addition.
About NLCIL:
For more than six decades, NLC India Limited has been a forerunner amongst the Public Sector Enterprises in the country in the energy sector, contributing to a lion's share in lignite production and significant share in thermal and renewable energy generation. For more information visit https://www.nlcindia.in
Ministry of Earth Sciences
Union Science & Technology Minister inaugurates air pollution mitigation devices at ITO and Mukarba Chowk in Delhi.
Device can purify air in an area of 500m2; 54 more such devices to be installed by 15th October in Delhi: Dr. Vardhan
Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest and Climate change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated air pollution control device WAYU for traffic junctions at ITO intersection and Mukarba Chowk in Delhi today.WAYU is developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Environmental Engineering Research Institute  as a part of Technology Development Project being funded by Department of Science and Technology.
Speaking at the inauguration Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that the prototype device that has been indigenously developed has the capacity to purify air in an area of 500 meter square. Dr. Vardhan further added that the device consumes only half a unit of electricity for 10 hours of running and has a maintenance cost of only Rs. 1500 per month. “We are in the process of developing a bigger version of WAYU which can purify air in an area of 10,000 meter square and also the designs of future WAYU devices will have even better aesthetics and can be deployed in bus shelters etc.”, said Dr. Vardhan.
The device works on two principles mainly Wind generation for dilution of air pollutants and Active Pollutants removal. The device has filters for Particulate Matter removal and activated carbon  and UV lamps for poisonous gases removal such as VOCs and Carbon Monoxide. The device has one fan and filter for sucking and removing Particulate Matter. There are two UV lamps and half kg of activated carbon charcoal coated with special chemical Titanium Dioxide.
By 15th of October, the ministry plans to install 54 more WAYU devices at various traffic intersections across Delhi.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 UPDATE
178.02 cr vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
India's Active caseload currently stands at 77,152
Active cases stand at 0.18%
Recovery Rate currently at 98.62%
14,947 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 4,23,53,620
6,561 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours
Daily positivity rate 
Weekly Positivity Rate 
77 cr Total Tests conducted so far; 8,82,953 tests conducted in the last 24 hours
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan hands over 7Croreth LPG connection under PMUY; Milestone reached in just 34 months
Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Sh. Dharmendra Pradhan today handed over the Seven Croreth LPG connection under the Pradhan MantriUjjwalaYojana . Under the scheme, deposit free LPG connection is provided to a poor household and the connection is released in the name of an adult woman. The scheme was launched on 1st May, 2016 by Hon’ble Prime Minister with an initial target of five crores, which was later revised upward to eight crores connections.
The Seven Croreth connection has been released within just 34 months of the scheme’s launch, which is a spectacular achievement for the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Nearly 69,000 connections are being released per day. There has been huge jump in the LPG coverage in the country, having gone up from 55% in 2014 to 93%. 42% of the total beneficiaries belong to SC/ST. As per the recent data, 82% PMUY beneficiaries are going for refilling their cylinder and average refilling is about 6.5 cylinders per beneficiary.
The various milestones in the journey to 7 croreth connection are as follows:
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Milestone
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Date
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Launch of PMUY
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1.5.16
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1 crore connections
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8.11.16
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2 Crore connections
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31.3.17
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3 Crore connections
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12.10.17
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4 Crore connections
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25.5.18
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5 Crore connections
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3.8.18
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6 Crore connections
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2.1.19
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7 Crore connections
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8.3.19
Top five states in terms of PMUY beneficiaries are as follows:
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State
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Connections under PMUY
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Uttar Pradesh
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1,26,40,088
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West Bengal
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78,47,110
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Bihar
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77,51,825
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Madhya Pradesh
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63,31,815
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Rajasthan
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55,34,808
Congratulating the women beneficiaries, Sh Pradhan said that they have been the main driving force behind this accomplishment. He said the Government has not only provided connection to the poor, but also distributed happiness to them. The scheme was launched with the identification from the SECC list, but was subsequently expanded to cover all the poor of the country. Lauding the efforts of Oil Marketing Companies, distributors, Field level Officers and all the stakeholders, he said due to their contribution, the Government could achieve the milestone of 7 crore within such a short time. The Minister said that the Government followed the principle of Sabkasathsabkavikas, and all the poor of the country are now eligible to get PMUY connection.
Sh Pradhan said that 6800 new distributorships have been given to strengthen rural LPG supply chain. The common Service Centres have also been roped in to assist in the LPG booking and distribution. He said that the Government has also undertaken steps to strengthen the infrastructure to provide the clean and affordable fuel- Gas. He mentioned that recent laying of the Foundation stone by the Prime Minister of 9000 Crore rupee Gorakhpur-Kandla LPG pipeline is a step in this direction.
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Special Service and Features
894 gms Gold worth Rs.39.13 Lakhs seized by Chennai Air Customs
On 19. I 0.2022, one passenger who arrived from Bangkok by Flight no. TG337 was intercepted by Chennai Air Customs Officers. On examination, 3 bundles of Gold in paste form was found concealed in his rectum and one gold bit was recovered from his undergarment. A total of 894 gms of Gold worth ₹39.13 Lakhs was recovered and seized under the Customs Act, 1962. Further investigation is under progress. This is stated in a Press Release issued by Mr. M Mathew Jolly, Principal Commissioner , Customs, Chennai International Airport.
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Ministry of Culture
CIVIL-20 India 2023 Working Committee Meeting takes place in Nagpur
: Nagpur, March 20, 2023
The Working Committee Meeting of CIVIL20 India 2023 started at Nagpur today . The meeting was attended by the Steering Committee  Members, the International Advisory Committee  members and the Working Group Coordinators of CIVIL-20 India 2023. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Vice Chairman of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini and CIVIL-20 India Secretariat Patron were present in the meeting.
The Steering Committee Members present in the meeting included Swami Amritaswarupananda, President, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India, Vijay K, Nambiar, Retired Indian Ambassador and the Sherpa of Civil20 India, 2023, Nivedita Bhide, All India Vice President of Vivekananda Kendra, Alessandra Nilo from GESTOS, Brazil and Troika Member of Civil20 India 2023, Martine Reicherts, Former European Commissioner Of Justice, Luxembourg, Nidhi Goyal, Co-founder and Director, Rising Flames. Ah Maftuchan, Sherpa Civil 20 India 2023 and Swadesh Singh, Sous-Sherpa, CIVIL20 India 2023. Kiran DM, Sous Sherpa, CIVIL20 India 2023 also attended the meeting.
Satyanand Mishra, Former CIC, at CIVIL-20 India 2023 Working Committee Meeting in Nagpur
Gajanan Dange, Yojak and National Coordinator, LiFE Working Group Speaking on topic Life Style for Environment 
The IAC Members present in the meeting included Dr Andy Carmone, Clinical Director at The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Jyotsna Mohan, Regional Coordinator , Asian Development Alliance, Binny Buchori, The Prakarsa, Indonesia, Guillermina Alaniz, Director of Global Advocacy & Policy, Aids Healthcare Foundation AHF, Riccardo Moro, Secretary General, LVIA, Italy, Pedro Bocca, Abong Brazil, Shyam Parande, Global Coordinator, Sewa International, and Dr. Shashi Bala, President, International Council of Cultural Studies.
Vijay Nambiar welcomed the delegates and asked Swami Amritaswarupananda to deliver the opening remarks. Swami Amritaswarupananda said that time, effort and divine praise are most essential elements in life. He said that spirituality was an integral part of life. Swami Amritaswarupananda said that it is necessary for the Governments to listen to grass-root level problems of common man and to find out the solution of such problems. He said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying his best in this endeavor through his policies.
Ah Maftuchan said that CIVIL-20 as an official engagement group of G20 is still relevant and helps to incorporate the social issues. He said that the ambitions of CIVIL20 needs to be more ambitious. CIVIL-20 also needs to give concrete recommendations that are both technically and politically feasible.
The floor was then opened for discussion and participants gave their suggestions and recommendations on the activities and concept notes of the CIVIL-20 India Working Groups.
Ministry of Power
NHPC installs Oxygen generation plants across the country
Three Oxygen generation plants installed by NHPC, India’s premier hydropower company were inaugurated today at District Civil Hospital , Faridabad. Haryana, District Hospital, Siddharthnagar, UP and CHC, Dharchula, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand having capacities of 1000 LPM , 570 LPM and 200 LPM respectively.
The Oxygen generation plant at District Hospital, Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh was inaugurated by Shri Jagdambika Pal, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha.
The Oxygen generation plant at B.K. Hospital, Faridabad was inaugurated by Hon’ble MLAs Smt. Seema Trikha and Shri Rajesh Nagar in presence of Shri Jitender Yadav, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Faridabad and senior officers and staff from NHPC and B.K. Hospital. The Hon’ble dignitaries highly appreciated NHPC’s efforts in setting of the plant.
The Oxygen generation plant at CHC, Dharchula, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand was inaugurated by Shri Dhan Singh Dhami, Block Pramukh, Dharchula.
NHPC is providing the Oxygen Generation Plants in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and directions of Ministry of Power, under its scheme of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development . The plants shall be highly beneficial in fighting the current Covid-19 crisis and also in providing regular oxygen supply to the hospital and catering to the need of surrounding areas. Under its CSR&SD scheme, NHPC will be setting up three more oxygen generation plants in UT of Ladakh.
PIB Headquarters
National Career Service Centre for SC/ST
The National Career Service Centre for SC/ST, 3rd Floor, Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board Building, 56, Santhome High Road, Chennai-600 004,  under M/o Labour & Employment, DGE, Government of India, inviting proposals from reputed firms/Institutions of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, for imparting the DGE sponsored scheme of 25th Phase Special Coaching Scheme under shorthand to 60 nos SC/ST candidates, Interested Institutes/Firms need to meet the following criteria such as will-trained faculties, training infrasture, location etc.
The Selected institute will impart training in  General Awareness,  General English  Numerical Ability,  Shorthand and Typing,  Basic Knowledge in Computer in order to make the eligible SC/ST educated Job Seeker of Tamil Nadu viable for facing the different Competitive Examinations. The selected Institutes / Firms will be paid professional Charges of Rs.800/-per candidate per month.
The interested institutions/Firms may apply to the Sub-Regional Employment officer, NATIONAL CAREER SERVICE CENTRE FOR SC/ST. CHENNAI  3rd Floor, Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board Building, 56, Santhome High Road, Chennai-600 004  on or before 31st May 2018
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Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
YAI SENIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2022 CONCLUDES AT MUMBAI
After a keenly contested battle for podium positions in tricky and light winds on first two days, and moderate wind conditions on subsequent days of racing off the Mumbai harbour, the Yachting Association of India  Senior National Championship 2022  concluded on 20 November 2022. The event was conducted from 13 to 20 November 2022 at the Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre  Mumbai under the aegis of the YAI and Indian Navy Sailing Association , for senior Asian Games classes of boats. These classes included iQFoil , NACRA 17 , ILCA 7 , ILCA 6 , 470 , 49er , 49erFX  and RS:X .
The event brought together 114 sailors from across the country and representing 14 sailing clubs to compete in the race to qualify and represent India at the Asian Games scheduled next year in China.
A team of race officials, including world sailing qualified International Race Officers, International Judges  and Measurers, ensured fair conduct of races and a level-playing ground to all competitors.
Vice Admiral K Swaminathan, AVSM, VSM, Chief of Staff, WNC was Chief Guest for the closing ceremony held on 20 Nov 2022 at INWTC . He presented medals to the winners.
Ministry of Education
Steps taken by the Government to boost skill based education under NEP
The Government of India has initiated various convergence efforts across the skill ecosystem under “Skill India Mission ”. Under the Mission, more than 20 Central Ministries/Departments are implementing Skill Development Schemes/Programmes to enhance skill levels of millions of people including School Children on pan India basis to create skilled workforce as per the needs of the Industry.
The National Education Policy  2020 has given special emphasis on vocational education through integration and mainstreaming of vocational education with general education which will help students in acquiring various skills to meet the needs of the industries and to improve the quality of education.
The department of School Education and Literacy  is implementing the scheme of Vocationalisation of School Education under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme - Samagra Shiksha by aligning it with the aims of the Skill India Mission.
The scheme aims at integrating Vocational Education with general academic education in all Secondary/Senior Secondary schools; enhancing the employability and entrepreneurial abilities of the students, providing exposure to work environment; and generating awareness amongst students about various career options so as to enable them to make a choice in accordance with their aptitude, competence and aspirations. The scheme covers Government and Government aided schools.
Under the Scheme, NSQF compliant vocational courses are offered to the students from class 9th to 12th in the schools covered under the scheme. At the Secondary level i.e. Class IX and X, vocational modules are offered to the students as an additional subject. At Sr. Secondary level, i.e. Class XI and XII, vocational courses are offered as a compulsory  subject. Vocational Courses are selected on the basis of notional hours, age & educational qualification prescribed and suitability for school students. The State Governments have been advised that Vocational courses are to be treated at par with other academic subjects and accorded a similar status in the scheme of subjects.
Under the Scheme, Employability Skill module has been made a mandatory part of the vocational Courses. It consists of Communication Skills, Self-Management Skills, Information and Communication Technology Skills, Entrepreneurship Skills and Green Skills.
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship  in association with the Ministry of Education  is implementing the ‘Skill Hub Initiative’ scheme under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 3.0 . Skill Hubs are nodal skill centres identified to provide skill development and vocational training opportunities to target school dropouts and out-of-education Student. As a step towards implementing integrated skilling through Skill Hubs, a pilot has been launched from January 1, 2022.
The information was given by the Minister of State for Education, Smt. Annpurna Devi in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.